Planned Longest River Bridge in India to Link to Nepal, Could Benefit 9 Million People
24 June 2016
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 24 June 2016 approved a $500-million loan to build a bridge across the Ganges River that will link India and Nepal. The bridge is also a vital link between Bihar’s northern and southern districts.
The 9.8-kilometer bridge will be India’s longest river bridge and will help people move between jobs and markets, says project leader Dong Kyu Lee of ADB’s South Asia Department. The planned bridge is projected to benefit 9 million people, especially those in poorer communities.
The bridge will span both channels of the Ganges River and will link to national highway networks. The project will also build viaducts, embankments, and toll and service facilities.
The bridge will have a year-round embankment access road for the 250,000 residents of the Raghopur Diara river island. Raghopor Diara inhabitants currently rely on boats and a seasonal pontoon bridge on their way to nearby Patna.
The bridge has been designed to withstand climate-related stresses as well as minimize impacts on the river through state-of-the art engineering techniques.
ADB will also be providing $900,000 in technical assistance to improve bridge operation and management, while the state government of Bihar will provide support equivalent to $215 million. The bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2020.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. It is owned by 67 members countries, including 48 from Asia.
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